Five days.
It had been five long days since King Ronan had ridden out from the castle, and there was still no word from him—no raven, no scout, not even the whisper of hoofbeats on the horizon.
Selene stood on the edge of her balcony, the wind gently tugging at her silk robe as she stared into the golden horizon. The sun was rising slowly, casting soft light over the landscape. It looked peaceful.
She closed her eyes, letting the light kiss her skin.
The past five days had been… easy. Unnaturally so. She had kept herself busy, sending aid to the first village that had been attacked by the rebellion and ensuring the surrounding territories were secure. She had offered resources, sent physicians, and tried—at least on the surface—to maintain calm.
The castle itself ran smoothly. The guards were sharp, the staff diligent. The only disruption came from the council, who were growing increasingly agitated over being ignored. Their complaints echoed faintly through the halls, but Selene didn't care.
What truly disturbed her was the silence.
No word from Ronan.
No message from the Faction.
Nothing.
She feared the worst. If her message hadn't reached them through Lila, then Ronan was likely dead… and the Faction was already preparing to rise.
Behind her, the doors to her chambers creaked open. Selene turned and stepped away from the balcony, her gaze falling on Lila and two young maids who had come to prepare her bath.
~"Any news from the Faction?"~ she asked silently, her mouth unmoving.
It had taken time, but Selene had grown used to Lila's powers—Reading minds. It was more useful than unsettling now. In the presence of others, it was their secret way of communicating.
~"Still nothing,"~ Lila replied in her mind.
Selene exhaled softly in disappointment.
"Your bath is ready, my lady," one of the maids said, bowing politely.
Selene nodded, untying her robe and stepping out of it without hesitation. She lowered herself into the steaming tub, the water filled with rose petals and lavender oils. The maids moved efficiently, washing her skin with scented soap.
Lila stood quietly nearby, arms folded, her eyes ever watchful.
Selene tried to relax in the tub but something caught her attention.
One of the maid's hands. She noticed a bruise, dark and ugly, barely concealed beneath the edge of her sleeve.
Selene narrowed her eyes.
She studied the girl's face. Her skin was pale, her eyes sunken with fatigue or lack of sleep.
"What happened to you?" Selene asked quietly.
The maid blinked, startled. "Your Majesty?"
"I asked what happened to you," she repeated, her gaze sliding pointedly to the girl's sleeve. "That bruise. Where did it come from?"
The maid's eyes widened. She quickly tugged her sleeve down. "Forgive me, Your Majesty. I-I fell. I'm fine. I swear—I'm not sick."
Selene's voice hardened. "Don't lie to me."
"I'm not lying! I promise. Please don't send me away. I need this job, I need to stay here."
According to palace policy, any servant showing signs of illness or injury was sent home—to prevent the spread of disease among the nobility. Her panic was understandable. But it was also suspicious.
Selene turned her gaze to Lila, who gave the faintest nod, confirming her own suspicions.
~"She's not sick,"~ Lila confirmed silently.
~"Then what happened?"~
There was a pause. A long one.
Then—
~"She was… she was raped,"~ Lila replied. Even through the mind-link, her voice faltered. The maid's memories had clearly stained her mind.
Selene's breath caught.
Her eyes snapped back to the girl, who stood quietly, unaware that her secret had just been unearthed.
"You were raped? By who!?" Selene asked aloud, her voice sharp.
The maid's face turned white. That was all the confirmation Selene needed.
"No one—no one did anything, Your Majesty!" she cried, backing away quickly. "No one!"
"Did it happen here? In the castle?"
"No!" she lied, too quickly.
~"Yes,"~ Lila whispered.
Selene stepped out of the tub, water dripping from her bare skin as she strode across the marble floor, uncaring of modesty. She stopped in front of the trembling maid.
"Who did it?"
"I—I don't know what you mean—please—"
"Enough," Selene said coldly.
Lila moved to whisper the man's name, but Selene raised her hand to stop her. ~"No. I want to hear it from her."~
She gently placed her hand against the girl's cheek. Her powers immediately taking hold. "Tell me what happened."
The maid's eyes glossed over.
"I went into Lord Percival's room to serve his morning tea like I always do," she began, her voice monotone but shaking. "After placing the tray, I turned to leave… but he grabbed me. He pulled me down to the ground. I tried to scream, to fight, but he… he told me to be quiet or he'd kill me. And when I didn't stop struggling, he said he'd kill my family instead."
The words stopped there. The girl couldn't go on. Her lips trembled and tears streamed silently down her face.
"When did this happen?" Selene asked, her voice like ice.
"Yesterday."
Selene's jaw clenched. Her body was still wet, but she no longer felt the cold. Her entire body burned with rage.
There was nothing she hated more than men like Lord Percival—men who used their status to violate and destroy. And not under her rule. Not in her castle.
"Get me dressed. Now," Selene snapped.
Lila moved quickly, handing her a robe while the other maid scurried to retrieve her gown.
"What are you going to do?" Lila asked quietly, this time aloud.
"I'm going to punish Lord Percival. Publicly."
Selene turned to the remaining maid.
"You. Find Lord Travis. Tell him to summon everyone in the castle to the Grand Hall—lords, ladies, councilmen, guards, every servant. No exceptions."
The maid bowed and ran.
"My queen," Lila said gently, "please… don't do anything rash. She isn't the first girl to be molested within these walls. And as awful as it is, she won't be the last. It's not worth—"
Selene turned to her sharply.
"I didn't ask for your opinion, did I, Lila?" Her voice was thunderous. "Now help me dress. I have a punishment to issue."